Rampage Going Coastal

The schedule maker in the AHL office must have done that Snydly Whiplash, nyah, nyah, nyah laugh when dreaming up this roadie for your Rampage.

Tonight and tomorrow in Abbotsford, British Columbia to take on the Heat, and then turn around an head east…wayyyy east, to play the Charlotte Checkers, as in North Carolina for games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Not only is travel bi-polar. The teams’ position in the standings are polar opposites as well.

The Heat lead the Western Conference, with a 17-6-1-1 record, including two wins the first time the Rampage went west in November. To be fair, it should be pointed out the Grand Rapids Griffins, defending Calder Cup champs, have the best record percentage wise since the Heat have played four more games.

Meanwhile, the Checkers have fallen to the depths of the Western Division and lead the conference with 13 losses. Only four of the 15 teams in the west are below .500, so the Checkers join the new clubs — Utica Comets and Iowa Wild and strange to say, Oklahoma City Barons.

The Rampage are driving coach Tom Rowe crazy. Not an easily flappable guy, Rowe firmly believes this team has what it takes to make some serious noise, but can’t seem to get out of their own way.

Leading Iowa Wednesday night (note above — sub .500 team) at home, the Rampage were assessed a late penalty, which allowed the Wild’s somewhat dependable power play the chance to tie the game, which it did, and lead to Iowa’s first win going into the third period. They were 0-8 prior to the shootout win.

The Rampage have enjoyed some degree of success in BC, so they have to feel pretty good heading out to the AHL hinderlands, even though the Heat have been a tough out this season. The Heat has had the week off thinking about how they lost two games to the lowly Comets at home last weekend. It figures that the Heat drew some of the best crowds in their history last week, only to see them lose to the conference doormat.

The Rampage have the second worst road record in the AHL with one caveat — they have one more win than Bridgeport at 3-6-0-1, but the Sound Tigers and Rampage each have seven points. Although not incredibly awful, he Rampage have struggled away from the AT&T Center, scoring only 22 goals in 10 games.